Cars and vans with no blue badges displayed, she added, often park in the space, leaving her little room to get out.

“It’s been very distressing,” she said, describing constant calls to Tower Hamlets Council over the defaced signs.

“It’s also cost me money because I have to get my studio assistants to run around and try and find a parking bay, and tell people not to park.”

Melita, who was raised in County Donegal and divides her time between northwestern Ireland’s sweeping seas and Islington, hopes the matter is solved in time for her “big show” next year in New York, London and Dublin.

After the Advertiser got in touch, a council spokeswoman said officers have contacted Melita about the “ongoing” issue.

“Council officers have visited the site and replaced defaced signage on more than six occasions,” she added.

Staff, the spokeswoman said, visited the site earlier today and will replace the vandalised signs “this afternoon” and the bent signpost “within the next 24 hours”.